Sounding toy.



l. D. BELTON.

SOUND-INS TOY-- APPLICATION HLED APR. 19. I917.

1,257AQ. Patented Feb. 25,1918.

ATTORNEY onrrnn snares raran'r onions. A

JOHN D. BELTON, OF CROWLEY, LOUISIANA.

sonunnve TOY.

Application filed April 19, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN D. BEL'I'ON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Crowley, in the parish of Acadia and State of Louisiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sounding Toys, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to toys, and particularly to sounding toys.

The invention has for its primary object to provide a toy of thatcharacter wherein rotary movement delivered thereto will cause the bodyof the toy to emit a humming or croaking sound, and which is equippedwith improved means for modulating the sound.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy of that characterwherein a hollow resonant body is employed, and to which is connected astring for creating vibrations within the body, which is of extremelysimple construction, which may be manufactured at low cost, which iseasy and simple of operation, and which has its sound modulating meansso constructed as to be capable of being easily and quickly adjusted.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation,combination, and arrangement of parts, all as will be described morefully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy constructed in accordance withthe invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the toy; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through the body of thetoy.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the body of the toy,indicated at 5, is in the form of a cylindrical drum, constructed ofmetal, wood, or composition, and is closed at one end by a top ordiaphragm 6. The opposite end of the drum is open, and a cap 7 isprovided for closing the said open end. Attached to the diaphragm or top6 of the body is a cord 8, by means of which the body may be swung orrotated. The cord extends at one end through an opening provided in thediaphragm 6 and is knotted as at 9 upon the interior of the body, so asto prevent the cord slipping or becoming de- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Feb. 26,1918.

Serial No. 163,256.

tached from the said diaphragm. The opposite end of the cord is in alike manner attached to the diaphragm at a point slightly removed fromthe point of connection with the aforementioned end, and is also knottedas indicated at 9. The head or too 6 of the rated if desired or treatedwith a resinous substance so as to create friction between the cord loopand handle. It is obvious from this construction that when the loopedend of the cord is engaged within the recess 12 of the handle, and thelatter is grasped in the hand, the body may be rotated, and thefrictional contact of the cord loops with the handle portion will causethe vibrations produced thereby to be transmitted to the diaphragm 6,and the rapidly vibrating diaphragm will create sound within the bodyWhen the cover or cap 7 is removed from the open end of the body, thesound waves confined within the body may escape, and thus produce alouder or more intense noise or tone than would be the case when thecover 7 is adjusted to the body.

In order that the sound created within the body may escape therefrom,the body is provided adjacent its outer end and in its side walls with aplurality of openings 14,, and the diaphragm 6 is also provided with aseries of openings indicated at 15.

The cap or cover 7 for the open end of the body may be secured inposition upon the latter in any preferred manner. In the presentinstance, the cap is illustrated as being constructed from a circulardisk, the latter being bent so as to provide an inwardly projectingflange 16, adapted to engage with the edges of the open end of the body,and to frictionally contact the same. The frictional contact betweenthis flange and the edge of the body opening will prove sufiicient tomaintain the cap in proper position against centrifugal force impartedthereto by rotating the body.

Means is provided in connection with the cap or cover for modulating thesound emitted from the body. The cover is pros vided with a plurality ofapertures 17, the

latter being preferably arranged in circular series in the cover.Pivoted upon the cover, and upon the interior face thereof preferably,is a disk or valve 18. lhis valve plate is provided with a pivot pin 19which extends through the cap, and is provided with a finger grip 20 atits outer end. The disk is also equipped with spaced apertures 21, soarranged upon the plate as to be capable of being registered with theopenings 17 in the top 7. \Vhen the disk 18 is rotated, however, theapertures 2117 will be disalined, and consequently the emission of soundthrough the cover will be prevented.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided a toy which is ofextremely simple construction, and yet which may afford great amusement.The quality of tone emanating from the body may be regulated orcontrolled by turning the disk 18, or by removing or applying the cap'7. It is also obvious that the intensity of the sound emanating fromthe body may be regulated by opening or closing the openings, or byvarying the rapidity of rotation the body.

In the foregoing i have stated that the body is in the shape of a hollowcylinder or drum, but it will be understood that the in vention is notnecessarily confined to a body of such shape. T he materials of whichthis body is constructed are also mentioned in the specification, but itwill he understood that these materials need not be followed in carryingthe invention into practice. It is preferred, however, that materials ofa resonant nature be used.

Vv hile the present disclosure is that of what I believe t be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited thereto, but that various changes may be madein the construction, arrangement, and proportion of parts, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appendedclaims.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, a drum havingopenings therein, a diaphragm in said drum, means for vibrating saiddiaphragm, and means for opening or closing said openings.

2. In a device of the clas. described, a hollow member open at one end,a cap for closing said end, the said cap having open-- ings therein, avalre for closing said openings, a vibratory diaphragm in the oppositeend of said hollow member, and means for vibrating the said diaphragm.

3. In a device of the class descril'ied, a hollow member open at oneend, a diaphragm in the other end of said member, means for vibratingsaid diaphragm, a cap for closing said open end, the said cap havingopenings therein, a plate rotatably mounted on said cap, the said platehaving openings adapted to register with those of said cap, and meansfor controlling the movements of said plate.

In testimony whereof I. aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN D. B Elli. O N.

lVitnesses PAUL ECKELS, JOHN BETHANY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington,- D. 0.

